Apparatus for coloring, printing, and decorating flat surfaces, particularly woven textiles



June 11, 1940 J. ISSARTEL ETI'AL 2 3,910 APPARATUS FOR COLORING,PRINTING, AND DECORATING F Llvr SURFACES, PARTICULARLY WOVEN TEXTILESFiled July 2, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fiif 6 3 55 11 5 5:

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Joasmzp .Zska 7' Ze Z Erma?! 5 05972 5 er MW) 3 4 K 4- Patented June 11,1940 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR COLORING, PRINTING, AND

DECORATING FLAT SURFACES, PARTICU- LARLY WOVEN TEXTILES .loanns Issarteland Ernest Robert, Lyon, France, assignors to Robissa S. A., Basie,Switzerland, a body corporate of Switzerland Application July 2, 1937,Serial No. 151,580 In Germany April 15, 1937 14 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for coloring and decorating flatsurfaces or fabrics, particularly woven textiles.

An object of the present invention resides in 6 the provision of a meansfor the application of colors and other substances in a particularlyefficient as well as simple and cheap manner to woven textiles and otherflat surfaces such as paper, leather, artificial leather, wood surfaces,and sheet metal in order to produce color effects. patterns,decorations, and the like.

In order to print woven textiles with colors. so-called calico printing,three groups of processes are employed customarily, namely,handprinting, stencil-printing, and cylinder-printing. All theseprocesses intended for mass production are troublesome andtime-consuming and frequently stand in the way of an economicalutilization of the colors and covering means. In addition to theseprocesses adapted to mass production, hand-painting is still used to acertain extent which finds its origin in the Far East and requiresartistic talent. The same applies to batik dyeing, in which certaineffects are produced by dispersing masses of colors which have a greateror lesser tendency to run.

Attempts to decorate woven textiles, paper, and the like with the aid ofapparatus composed of a plurality of color containers of squarecross-section provided at their lower ends with tubular color-dischargeopenings projecting beyond the container walls and closable by valvesand which could be moved with the aid of runners resembling those of asledge over the fabric to be printed have not produced serviceableresults. The main difficulties in the employment of such apparatusintended for the simultaneous production of a plurality of straightlines or stripes consisted therein that, owing to non-uniform absorptionof the color by the base, defects in printing such as spots and otherdefective parts occurred in addition to losses of color and other It isan object of the present invention to provide a means for coloring anddecorating woven textiles such as cotton, wool, silk, artificial silk,and other flat surfaces, whereby the coloring and decorating of the baseis effected in a very simple and cheap manner without the occurrence ofdefects in printing, losses in color, and the like, and

whereby the most varied kinds of patterns and of example in theaccompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a color-printing apparatusaccording to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modification of the presentinvention with the valve in closed position. v

Fig. 3 shows the device illustrated in Fig. 2 in normal operatingcondition with the valve in open position.

Fig. 4 shows the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2

' in a condition in which the operating fluid has just been withdrawnfrom the discharge opening and the collecting chamber.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a modified apparatusaccording to the present invention taken along line 5-4 of Fig. 6. aFig. 6 is a bottom view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a part sectional viewof an embodiment of the present inventioncomprising a plurality of containers.

Fig. 8 is a part sectional view. of the apparatus shown in Fig. 7 inconnection with transport means for moving the apparatus relatively tothe surfaces to be decorated.

Like parts are designated by like numerals in all figures of thedrawings.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1: I represents a, for examplepocket-shaped, color container, the walls of which approach one anotherin a downward direction. In the power. part of the container, a block 2consisting of metal. for example brass, forms a solid container bottomor mouthpiece and has a color-discharge opening or mouth 3 constructed,for example,in the shape of a slot for outlet of the wet flowable colorto the fabric beneath.

The lower end of the container or the block 2 is so constructed,according to the present invention, that it slides smoothly over thefabric or the like without leaving it, in the manner of a smoothingiron. Edges or other projections are absent. The outlet or slot is ofsuch small or narrow dimension that by suction or closure above it theoutflow of color may be wholly stopped.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated, the lower partof block 2 and the edges of the discharge opening are rounded oil. inorder to ensure smooth travel over the base. The containers which are,for example, triangular in cross section are preferably only of limitedwidth so that a plurality of containers which may, if desired, becharged with different colors and, if desired, be provided withdischarge openings of different shapes and can be combined together andthe resulting aggregate be employed as a single unit.

A relatively small collecting and distributin chamber 4, which can beseparated or shut oil from the color container I by a valve 5, isproshaped discharge opening, a collecting chamber of correspondinglength is provided, it maybe advisable to introduce the color fromcontainer I into collecting chamber 4 through a plurality of inletopenings individually controlled by valves, in order to ensure as rapidand uniform a. distribution thereof as possible over the entire lengthof the elongated collecting chamber. In some cases, it has proved to beadvisable to additionally provide one or more, for example circular,inlet chambers closable by valves above the, for example elongated,collecting chamber. In general, it is advisable to ensure that the valvehead eflecting the closure does not penetrate into the relatively narrowcollecting chamber proper when the valve is closed.

The shaft or stem 6 of valve 5 is slidably guided to move against theaction of spring I. The valve is closed by the pressure of spring I andopened by force acting against the pressure of spring 1. By suitableoperation of the valve or valves, the inflow of the color mixture intochamber I can be regulated and a metered discharge of the color on tothe base be etl'ected. The valve 5 is shown beveled and when closedrests on a beveled seat in the block 2 above the chamber 4.

In many cases, it is advisable to temporarily withdraw all or part ofthe color'mass contained in collecting and distributing chamber 4 anddischarge opening 3; this is preferably done by suction above thechamber without need of closing valve 5. Such an apparatus isillustrated in longitudinal section in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Fig. 2 showsthe color-printing device with the valve closed, and Fig. 3 shows thesame device with the valve open, 1. e., in working position, while Fig.4 shows the color in the process of being sucked back by the action ofreduced pressure.

In the embodiments according to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the valve shaft 6 isprovided with a suction plunger or piston 8 which is guided in a tube orcylinder 9 which is connected by ports or openings III with the interiorof color container II. The cylinder extends the height of the container,with its lower end fitted and attached in the bottom block 2. Closeabove the valve head 5, on the stem 6, is an inflow regulating plate ordisk or sleeve II which is provided with passages or openings I2 whichmay, if desired, be capable of regulation, for example, be entirely orpar tially closable against flow from above to below the disk or viceversa. Regulating plate or sleeve II, like plunger 8, is rigidlyconnected to valve shaft 6. As is shown in Fig. 3, on opening valve 5,the color passes from the general space of container I through openingsI0 into the interior of tube 9 and from the latter through openings I2of the inflow regulating disk or disk II, then flows past the valve head5 in the direction of the arrows into distribution chamber 4. from whichit passes in a uniform flow through discharge openings 8 on to the base.

If the color-printing operation is to be interrupted' or-terminated, thecolor is sucked out of distributing chamber 4 and discharge opening 3.According .to the condition illustrated in Fig. 4, this is effected bylifting valve shaft I. Plunger 8 there y exerts a suction action, bymeans .of which t mass of color is lifted within the tube and drawn upfrom the chamber. When the valve shaft is so raised, theinflow-regulating disk or port valve II closes the port openings III inthe walls of tube 9 so that, in this position, the interior of the tubeis disconnected from the main general space of container I, cutting offfurther inflow and downflow, and preserving the suction by closure.

The color discharge openings or orifices 3 may be of diiferent shapes;they may, for example, be

slot-shaped, square, rectangular, annular, or circular. According to apreferred embodiment,.the discharge slot is narrow and extends over theentire width of the color container. By constructing the color containerwide enough, fabrics in the piece and the like can be colored over theirentire width and in this way surface colorings be obtained. Slot-shapeddischarge openings may also, if desired, be provided withinterchangeable .or removable partitions so that the slot can be reducedto produce smaller discharge openings of the same kind. In the case ofapparatus having relatively long color discharging slots, it isadvisable to employ a plurality of color feeding devices individuallycontrollable by valves. In this case, a common color distributingchamber for all or several of the outlet openings may be provided or, ifdesired, a plurality of color distributing chambers into which, ifdesired, colors of different kinds can be introduced.

An embodiment of an apparatus according totudinal section. In Fig. 6 thebottom part of the apparatus according to Fig. 5 is shown in plan viewfrom below.

In the apparatus shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the distributing chamber 4' isfilled through two color inlet passages leading from tubes 9 andcontrolled by valves 5' and 5". The dimensions of distributing chamber4' are such that it can accommodate only a limited amountv of printingcolor. Color discharge opening 3' .is divided by a bridge [3 whichissituated between the two color inlet valves 5' and 5".

A plurality of color containers of the hereinbeiore described kind maybe assembled to a unit. This embodiment of the present invention isshown in Fig. 7. The color containers may, for example, be arranged sideby side or stepped one behind the other. The valves may be operatedtogether or, for example, individually or in groups. In Fig. '7, twocolor containers are shown which are situated in stepped position onebehind the other. The color containers I are provided with extensions IIwhich are clamped to a holder 25. These extensions may be made ofresilient material. The valve shafts or stems 6 projecting from thecontainers are guided movably for the action of spring I by means ofangle irons I5 and the stems are held and. operated by ing the cord ll.

the gripping members ll which can be raised and lowered by hand by meansof a, lifter or lever II. The color containers are pressed down to thematerial to be ornamented by means of plate springs ll, the pressure ofwhich can be regulated by screw ll.

Pig, 8 shows an arrangement in which, for example, an assembly asillustrated in Fig. 7 is suspended in a carriage II which can be movedby rollers or other guiding elements along the rails 22 of the printingtable 28, for example, by pull- The container blocks or mouthpiecestravel along and color the fabric or material 2| lying on the table.

The various embodimentsof apparatus of this invention can be used in themost varied ways, particularly for mass production of the most variedkinds of decorations, colored patterns, and colored eilects. Printing ofthe bases may be effected by moving the color-printing apparatus overthe base or by moving the base beneath stationary color-printingapparatus or by moving both the printing apparatus and the base. Forexample, by moving the color-printing a'pparatus in a longitudinal,transverse, and/or diagonal direction, striped decorations in the sameor different colors may be obtained; by serpentine-like movement,corresponding patterns may be obtained, and so on. The movement of thecolor-printing apparatus over the base may be carried out by handaccording to to this invention in one or more colors. Covering masses,so-called reserves, such as resin solutions and the like may, forexample, also be applied in suitable designs on the base and theuncovered positions be printed according to this invention with colors.In this case. apparatus according to this invention may be employed forapplying the reserves. For the mechanical control of the color-printingapparatus, auxiliary means such as cam lifters, curves, discs, and thelike controlled by hand or mechanically may be employed. With the aid ofauxiliary means as aforesaid, the color containers may, for example, betemporarily raised from the material and be then again pressed on. Analternative procedure, for example, is to trace a copying design with afeeler and to guide the coloring apparatus, for example,electro-mechanically with the aid of the feeler.

. The color-printing apparatus may, for example, also be suspended abovethe table carrying or guiding the base, for example, on elastic cordswhich allow of a certain movement, and be guided by handor-mechanically. Rails which may, for example, be curved or otherwiseshaped may be employed inter alia for the purpose of guiding.

When employing a single color container, this may be guided in a simplemanner, for example, by hand over the base and thereby particularlyartistic effects obtained. By using color containers having, forexample, punctiform color discharge openings, designs such as offlowers, leaves etc. may, for example, be produced.

For printing and decorating flat surfaces, flowing colors of the ustialkind may be employed, particularly color mixtures adjusted with the aidof thickening agents to the desired degree of viscosity.

As the above examples show, the invention enables both surface printingto be effected and also the most varied patterns, decorations, and thelike to be produced, it being possible to produce multicolored eilectsin a very simple manner in one single operation. Patte of the tartantype and so-called moir efl'ects ma for example, be obtained, andcontinuous straight or curved lines may be produced. Interruptions inthe design may also be effected, for example, when employing anapparatus containing a plurality of color containers, in which, forexample, the color containers are disposed in one common support, by

temporarily interrupting the color outflow from individual colorcontainers, whilst others operate continuously. Designs such as leavesand flowers may also be produced in a very simple manner,

forexample, by employing color-printing apparatus, the dischargeopenings of which are so shaped that they are adapted to produce lines,spots, points, and the like. By suitable guiding, for example, inaccordance with copying designs or along stencils, it is easily possibleto produce the desired patterns or designs.

While we believe the above described embodiments of our invention to bepreferred embodiments, we wish it to be understood that we do not desireto be limited to the exact details of process, design, and constructionshown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a personskilled in the art.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for applying designs in wet colors upon fabric or othersurfaces, comprising a container for the flowable color having a bottomrelatively slidable in direct contact upon the surface to be colored,said bottom formed with one or more constantly open color dischargeoutlets of narrow width, and with a feed chamber from which the outletdescends and arranged to receive color from the container, a valve toclose off the feed chamber from receiving color, an interior wallforming a cylindrical reservoir within the container and mounted uprightupon said bottom with a port in said wall admitting color to thereservoir and thence to the chamber, and means operable while the valveis open for closing said port and for creating suction in saidreservoirto terminate color outflow through the chamber and outlet,without closing the'vaive.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 and wherein said means comprises aliftable stem, with a piston lifted by the stem to create suction in thereservoir and a port valve lifted by the stem to close the port whilethe valve'is open.

3. Apparatus for applying designs in wet colors upon fabric or othersurfaces, comprising a container for the flowable color having a bottomrelatively slidable in direct contact smoothly upon the surface to becolored, said bottom formed with at least one color discharge outletchannels of narrow width and always open, and with a small f'eed chamberfrom which the outlet channel descends and arranged to receive colorfrom the container, an interior chamber valve movable downwardly to shutoil the chamber from the container and upwardly to open the chamber tothe container, an operating stem extending upwardly from the valve forcontrol from above the container, a cylindrical tube arranged uprightwithin the container and fitted to the bottom, I

with ports in the tube wall near the bottom for admission of color tothe tube and thence to the chamber, a piston means connected to saidstem and adapted to be lifted thereby to create suction within thetube'and chamber to cut off downfllow of color through the open hamberand outlet channels, and a port valve means adapted to be lifted by saidstem thereby to close the tube wall ports against admission of colorwhen suction is caused to stop downflow.

4. Apparatus for applying designs in wet colors upon fabric or othersurfaces, comprising a container for the flowable color having a bottomrelatively slidable in direct contact upon a ilat surface to be colored,said bottom formed with a constantly open descending discharge outlet ofnarrow, width, and with a feed chamber from which the outlet descendsand arranged to receive color from the container, an interior chambervalve movable,to closed position to shut off the chamber from thecontainer and, reversely to open the chamber to receive color from thecontainer, a stem extending upwardly from the valve for operation froman exterior point above the container, and separate suction meansoperable while the chamber valve is open to create suction thereabove tostop downflow of color through the outlet. l a

5. An apparatus as in claim 4 and wherein the suction means operablewhile the chamber valve is open comprises a piston lifted by the stem ofthe valve to apply suction to the color in the chamber and so suspendoutflow through the outlet.

6. Apparatus for applying designs in wet colors upon fabric or othersurfaces, comprising a container for the flowable color having a bottomrelatively slidable in direct contact upon the surface to be colored,said bottom formed, with at least one constantly open color dischargeoutlet channel of narrow width, and with a feed chamber from which theoutlet descends and arranged to receive color from the container, aninterior chamber valve movable to closed position to shut off thechamber from the container and reversely to open the chamber to receivecolor from the container, a stem extending upwardly from the valve foroperation from an exterior point above the container, a wall forming aninterior reservoir within the container general space and above itsbottom, a port in said wall leading from the container general spaceinto such reservoir, an

interior means operated by the movement of the valve stem to close suchport and thus disconnect the reservoir from the container, and aninterior means operated by the stem to create suction. in the reservoirand chamber in the same movement with the closing of such ports by saidsleeve means, while said chamber valve is open, thereby to terminateoutflow in said channel without closing said valve. v

' 7. Apparatus for applying designs in wet colors upon fabric or othersurfaces, comprising a flat rigid table to support the fabric, acontainer for the flowable color having a bottom smoothly slidable indirect contact on top of the fabric to be colored resting flatwise uponthe table, said bottom formed with at least one constantly opendescending color discharge channel of such narrow width that outflow maybe interrupted by suction applied above, and with a feed chamber abovethe outlet and from which the open narrow outlet descends, such feedchamber having substantial volume and being arranged to receive color byflowfrom the container, an interior chamber valve movable downwardly toclosed position to shut off the chamber from the container and upthecontainer, means for exterior operation of said chamber valve, and meansoperable when said valve is open for applying and relieving suctionabove the chamber to interrupt and permit liquid outflow according tothe design to be ap-- plied to thefabric.

8. An apparatuses in claim 7 and wherein is resilient means to causepressure of the container downwardly toward the table and against thefabric to be colored, and means for adjusting the resilient pressurethereof.

9. Apparatus for applying designs in liquid colors upon textile or otherflat surfaces, comprising a. liquid color container having its bottomslidablesmoothly upon the surface to be colored,

said container bottom being formed with one or more color dischargeoutlets each fed by a descending channel of such narrow width thatdownflow can be quickly stopped as desired by applying interior suctionupon the liquid and can be resumed by relieving the suction, with asmall feed chamber arranged to receive liquid from the container, andfrom which each channel descends to the outlet, a chamber valve meansclosable to shut off the chamber from the container and openable toreceive color from the container, and means to apply suction to theliquid above the chamber while the chamber valve is open and to relievesuch suction thereby to afford quick application and stoppage of coloraccording to the design desired.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 and wherein the container bottom is a solidblock in. which is formed the feed chamber and the channel descendingtherefrom to the outlet.

11. Apparatus as-in claim 9 and wherein the feed chamber is horizontallyelongated and the discharge'outlet is an elongated groove fed therefrom.

12. Apparatus as in claim 9 and wherein the container is open at top andwithin the container is provided an upright interior walled reservoir atwardly to open the chamber to receive color from,

the bottom of which the feed chamber is located,

and the means to apply suction, for quick control of discharge from thechamber consists. of a piston working in said reservoir.

/ 13. Apparatus as in claim 9 and wherein are ports in the reservoirwall to admit liquid from the container to the reservoir, a port closingdevice, and a single connection to operate the port closing device andthe suction means in coordination, whereby to close or open the portswhen the suction means is to be actuated to apply or relieve suction onthe liquid.

14. Apparatus as in claim 9and wherein is a cylindrical reservoir abovethe feed chamber within the container, with ports in the reservoir wallfor inflow of liquid from the container, the chamber valve having avalve rod extending upwardly through the reservoir, valve means carriedby said rod to close and open said wall ports, and a suction pistoncarried by the rod within the reservoir above said valve and valvemeans; said ports being so arranged that when the rod is lifted and thechamber valve open, the wall ports may be closed and the piston operableto apply and relieve suction.

' JOANNE-S ISSARTEL.

ERNEST ROBERT.

